228 LESSON 15 04
2011 Avarana Sutta Obstacles FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice
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GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON
228

COURSE
PROGRAM

Avarana Sutta

Avarana Sutta: Obstacles

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi,
in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s Monastery. There he addressed the monks,
“Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks replied to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One said: “These five are obstacles, hindrances
that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment. Which five?

“Sensual desire is an obstacle, a hindrance that overwhelms
awareness and weakens discernment. Ill will… Sloth & drowsiness…
Restlessness & anxiety… Uncertainty is an obstacle, a hindrance that
overwhelms awareness and weakens discernment. These are the five obstacles,
hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment. And when a monk has
not abandoned these five obstacles, hindrances that overwhelm awareness and
weaken discernment, when he is without strength and weak in discernment: for
him to understand what is for his own benefit, to understand what is for the
benefit of others, to understand what is for the benefit of both, to realize a
superior human state, a truly noble distinction in knowledge & vision: that
is impossible.

“Suppose there were a river, flowing
down from the mountains — going far, its current swift, carrying everything
with it — and a man would open channels leading away from it on both sides, so
that the current in the middle of the river would be dispersed, diffused, &
dissipated; it wouldn’t go far, its current wouldn’t be swift, and it wouldn’t
carry everything with it. In the same way, when a monk has not abandoned these
five obstacles, hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment,
when he is without strength and weak in discernment for him to understand what
is for his own benefit, to understand what is for the benefit of others, to
understand what is for the benefit of both, to realize a superior human state,
a truly noble distinction in knowledge & vision: that is impossible.

“Now, when a monk has abandoned these five obstacles,
hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment, when he is strong
in discernment: for him to understand what is for his own benefit, to
understand what is for the benefit of others, to understand what is for the
benefit of both, to realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction
in knowledge & vision: that is possible.

“Suppose there were a river, flowing down from the
mountains — going far, its current swift, carrying everything with it — and a
man would close the channels leading away from it on both sides, so that the
current in the middle of the river would be undispersed, undiffused, &
undissipated; it would go far, its current swift, carrying everything with it.
In the same way, when a monk has abandoned these five obstacles, hindrances
that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment, when he is strong in
discernment: for him to understand what is for his own benefit, to understand
what is for the benefit of others, to understand what is for the benefit of
both, to realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction in knowledge
& vision: that is possible.”

“Monks, I will teach you the feeding & starving of the
five hindrances & of the seven factors for Awakening. Listen & pay
close attention. I will speak…

Feeding the Hindrances

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual
desire, or for the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has
arisen? There is the theme of beauty. To foster inappropriate attention to it:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth
& increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen ill
will, or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen?
There is the theme of resistance. To foster inappropriate attention to it: This
is the food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth &
increase of ill will once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth
& drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen? There are boredom, weariness, yawning,
drowsiness after a meal, & sluggishness of awareness. To foster
inappropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen
sloth & drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen restlessness
& anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness &
anxiety once it has arisen? There is non-stillness of awareness. To foster
inappropriate attention to that: This is the food for the arising of unarisen
restlessness & anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness
& anxiety once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty,
or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are
phenomena that act as a foothold for uncertainty. To foster inappropriate
attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or
for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen.

Feeding the Factors for
Awakening

“Now, what is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening [well-purified virtue
& views made straight]. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is
the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor for Awakening, or
for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it
has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis
of qualities as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
analysis of qualities… once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that
are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy & blameless, gross &
refined, siding with darkness & with light. To foster appropriate attention
to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of
qualities… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence…
once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for
exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to them:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor for
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence… once it has
arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture… once
it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as
a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the
food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of rapture… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen serenity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity… once
it has arisen? There is physical serenity & there is mental serenity. To
foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of
unarisen serenity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase
of serenity… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration…
once it has arisen? There are themes for calm, themes for non-distraction
[these are the four frames of reference]. To foster appropriate attention to
them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor
for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration… once it has
arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity…
once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for
equanimity as a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor for
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor for
Awakening once it has arisen.

Starving the Hindrances

“Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual
desire, or for the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has
arisen? There is the theme of unattractiveness. To foster appropriate attention
to it: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for
the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen ill
will, or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen?
There is awareness-release.[1]
To foster appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising
of unarisen ill will, or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has
arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth
& drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential
for exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth & drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth & drowsiness once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen restlessness
& anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness &
anxiety once it has arisen? There is the stilling of awareness. To foster
appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen
restlessness & anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness
& anxiety once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty,
or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are
mental qualities that are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy &
blameless, gross & refined, siding with darkness & with light. To
foster appropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of
unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it
has arisen.

Starving the Factors for
Awakening

“Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention
to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis
of qualities as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
analysis of qualities… once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that
are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy & blameless, gross &
refined, siding with darkness & with light. Not fostering attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of
qualities… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen persistence
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence…
once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for
exertion, the potential for striving. Not fostering attention to them: This is
lack of food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor for Awakening,
or for the growth & increase of persistence… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture… once
it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as
a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food
for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of rapture… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen serenity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity… once
it has arisen? There is bodily serenity & there is mental serenity. To
foster inappropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of
unarisen serenity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase
of serenity… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration…
once it has arisen? There are the themes for concentration, themes for
non-confusion. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the
arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth
& increase of concentration… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor
for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor for
Awakening once it has arisen.”